Device for retaining and supporting flexible elongated bodies

ABSTRACT

A device for at least one of supporting, anchoring holding or retaining elongated bodies includes at list one clip formed from a predetermined resilient material having memory. Such clip has a base having a pair of legs, each with an inwardly facing concave that form in combination an elongated body receiving opening. An access slot is formed in substantial alignment with the elongated body receiving opening by a terminal ends of each leg being spaced from one another a predetermined distance in a normal operating position, whereby each terminal end is adapted for outward movement during insertion of such elongated bodies into the elongated body receiving opening and removal of such elongated bodies therefrom, whereby size of the elongated body receiving opening is greater than size of the access slot. The clip can be mounted to at least one of a surface and an object in a variety of ways.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to and claims priority from ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 60/979,597 filed on Oct. 12, 2008.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to flexible tube, cable orcord supports and, more particularly, this invention relates to suchsupport having a pair of inwardly curved and resilient legs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is generally well known, electric cords, electric extension cords,wires and flexible tubes are used extensively in industrial andresidential environments. It is further well known that special caremust be taken in routing and positioning such flexible elongated bodies.A particular problem is associated with use of electric cords andextension cords to connect a device positioned remotely to an electricaloutlet. In residential environments, many electric cords and extensioncords can make the room look unkempt because the eyes will focus on thecords rather than on something else. Thus, many prefer to route thesecords under rugs and carpeting in order to hide them from direct view.However, such routing leads to premature wear of cords as well as to agreater risk of fire. Electric cords that are not tucked behindsomething or stabilized in some manner could trip people, especiallyrambunctious youngsters, potentially causing injuries. Pets may alsobecome tangled in the cords, especially when left alone. A similarproblem is associated with use of surround stereo system requiringmounting of various speakers remotely from the base unit with thesubsequent electrical connection thereto.

Furthermore, having multiple electrical cords joined together throughextension cords can cause a person unnecessary wasted effort at a latertime. If a person wants to unplug a television, but the television,radio, telephone, gaming system and computer are all plugged intogether, it may take greater than desired time to figure out which cordis connected to a specific device. Thus, the person using a computer mayalso lose valuable information if the wrong plug is pulled, causingunnecessary aggravation and frustration.

Prior to the conception and design of the present invention efforts havebeen made to alleviate difficulties associated with routing suchflexible elongated bodies. U.S. Pat. No. 2,292,140 issued to Lorfgren,U.S. Pat. No. 3,409,257 issued to Elm, U.S. Pat. No. 3,991,960 issued toTanaka, U.S. Pat. No. 4,472,860 issued to Osterlind, U.S. Pat. No.6,431,500 issued to Jacobs et al. and U.S. Pat. No. D265,381 issued toBorja disclose various devices for supporting, anchoring or retainingsuch elongated bodies.

However, there is remaining a need for an expensive and simple to usedevice capable of at least one of supporting, anchoring holding orretaining elongated bodies, particularly of a flexible type and, moreparticularly, in a semi-permanent or temporary manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention provides a device for at least one ofsupporting, anchoring holding or retaining elongated bodies. The deviceincludes at list one clip formed from a predetermined resilient materialhaving memory. The at least one clip includes a base. The base has apredetermined shape. A first leg is provided and has an inwardly facingfirst concave inner surface. A second leg is also provided and has aninwardly facing second concave inner surface. There is a generally roundelongated body receiving opening centrally formed by a combination ofthe first and second concave inner surfaces. An access slot is formed insubstantial alignment with the elongated body receiving opening by aterminal end of the first leg being spaced a predetermined distance froma terminal end of the second leg in a normal operating position. Eachterminal end is adapted for outward movement during insertion of suchelongated bodies into the generally round elongated body receivingopening and removal of such elongated bodies therefrom. The size of theelongated body receiving opening is greater than size of the accessslot. Finally, means is provided for mounting the at least one clip toat least one of a surface and an object.

In another aspect, the invention provides a device for at least one ofsupporting, anchoring holding or retaining elongated bodies. The deviceincludes an elongated base member. At list one clip extends from thebase member and includes a first leg. The first leg has each of a firstoutwardly facing convex outer surface, at least one of a tapered andconcave transition surface between the first convex surface and the basemember, an inwardly facing first concave arcuate inner surfaceconverging toward the outer convex surface at a terminal end of thefirst leg and diverging from the outer convex surface in a directiontoward the base member, and a continuously varying thickness formed bythe first inner and outer surfaces, the first leg formed from apredetermined resilient material having memory. There is also a secondleg. The second leg has each of a second outwardly facing convex outersurface, at least one of a tapered and concave transition surfacebetween the second convex surface and the base member, a second inwardlyfacing concave arcuate inner surface converging toward the outer convexsurface at a terminal end of the second leg and diverging from the outerconvex surface in a direction toward the base member, and a continuouslyvarying thickness formed by the second inner and outer surfaces, thesecond leg formed from the predetermined resilient material having thememory. A generally round elongated body receiving opening is centrallyformed by a combination of the first and second concave arcuate innersurfaces. There is also an access slot that is centrally formed insubstantial alignment with the elongated body receiving opening by theterminal end of the first leg being spaced a predetermined distance fromthe terminal end of the second leg in a normal operating position. Eachterminal end is adapted for outward movement during insertion of suchelongated bodies into the generally round elongated body receivingopening and removal of such elongated bodies therefrom. The size of theelongated body receiving opening is greater than size of the accessslot. Means is also provided for mounting the device to at least one ofa surface and an object. Such means being at least one of pair ofapertures formed through the base member, slot formed through the deviceand member disposed on an exposed surface of the base member.

In a third aspect, the present invention provides a device for at leastone of supporting, anchoring holding or retaining elongated bodies. Thedevice includes a base. A first clip extends from the base. A secondclip also extends from the base along a common axis in a directionopposite to a direction of the first clip. Each clip includes a firstleg having an inwardly facing first concave inner surface, a second leghaving an inwardly facing second concave inner surface, a generallyround elongated body receiving opening centrally formed by a combinationof the first and second concave inner surfaces, and an access slotformed in substantial alignment with the elongated body receivingopening by a terminal end of the first leg being spaced a predetermineddistance from a terminal end of the second leg in a normal operatingposition. Each terminal end is adapted for outward movement duringinsertion of such elongated bodies into the generally round elongatedbody receiving opening and removal of such elongated bodies therefrom.The size of the elongated body receiving opening is greater than size ofthe access slot.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention toprovide a device for at least one of supporting, anchoring, holding orretaining elongated bodies.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for atleast one of supporting, anchoring, holding or retaining elongatedbodies that can be attached to a variety of surfaces and objects.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device forat least one of supporting, anchoring, holding or retaining elongatedbodies that can be attached in a semi-permanent, permanent or temporarymanner.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device for atleast one of supporting, anchoring, holding or retaining elongatedbodies that is inexpensive to manufacture.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide device forat least one of supporting, anchoring, holding or retaining elongatedbodies that is simple to use.

In addition to the several objects and advantages of the presentinvention which have been described with some degree of specificityabove, various other objects and advantages of the invention will becomemore readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevantart, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction withthe attached drawing Figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a front elevation view of a device for at least oneof supporting, anchoring holding or retaining elongated bodies that isconstructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a front elevation view of a device for at least oneof supporting, anchoring holding or retaining elongated bodies that isconstructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 3 a-3 f illustrate various embodiments of attaching the devices ofFIGS. 1-2 to a surface or object;

FIG. 4 illustrates a planar view of the device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 illustrates a side elevation view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 illustrates a front elevation view of a device for at least oneof supporting, anchoring holding or retaining elongated bodies that isconstructed in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a front elevation view of a device for at least oneof supporting, anchoring holding or retaining elongated bodies that isconstructed in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates one environmental view of using the device of FIGS.1-2; and

FIG. 9 illustrates another environmental view of using the device ofFIGS. 1-2 and 7.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the presentinvention, it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity andunderstanding, identical components which have identical functions havebeen identified with identical reference numerals throughout the severalviews illustrated in the drawing figures.

The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms ofits various embodiments, herein depicted within FIGS. 1 through 9.However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiments, anda person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodimentsof the invention are possible without deviating from the basic conceptof the invention and that any such work around will also fall underscope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles andconfigurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated intothe teachings of the present invention, and only several particularconfigurations shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity anddisclosure and not by way of limitation of scope.

The present invention provides a device, generally designated as 10, forat least one of supporting, anchoring holding or retaining elongatedbodies 2. Such elongated bodies include but are not limited to electriccord, electric extension cords, flexible tubing, rigid tubing and thelike. Now in a particular reference to FIGS. 1, the device 10 includesat list one clip 20 formed from a predetermined resilient materialhaving memory. The clip 20 includes a base 22 having a predeterminedshape and an exposed surface 24. The clip 20 further includes a firstleg 30 having an inwardly facing first concave inner surface 32.Preferably, such first concave inner surface 32 further has an arcuateshape of a predetermined radius. The first leg 30 is formed from aresilient material having memory. Such material may be one of a rubberand plastic.

There is also a second leg 40 having an inwardly facing second concaveinner surface 42. Similar to the first concave inner surface 32, thesecond concave inner surface 42 has an arcuate shape of a predeterminedradius. The second leg 40 is also formed from the resilient materialhaving memory.

An elongated body receiving opening 50 is centrally formed by acombination of the first and second concave inner surfaces 32 and 42,respectively. Preferably, the elongated body receiving opening 50 issubstantially round being formed by substantially identical radii of thefirst and second concave inner surfaces 32 and 42, respectively.

A final essential element of the clip 20 is an access slot 52 centrallyformed in substantial alignment with the elongated body receivingopening 50 by a terminal end 34 of the first leg 30 being spaced apredetermined distance from a terminal end 44 of the second leg 40 in anormal operating position. Each terminal end 34, 44 is adapted foroutward movement during insertion of such elongated bodies 2 into thegenerally round elongated body receiving opening 50 and removal of suchelongated bodies 2 therefrom through the access slot 52. It would beappreciated that the size of the elongated body receiving opening 50 isgreater than size of the access slot 52.

For the reasons to be explained later, each leg 30, 40 includes anoutwardly facing convex outer surface 36 and 46 respectively.Furthermore, each inwardly facing concave inner surface 32, 42 convergestoward the respective outer convex surface 36, 46 at a terminal end arespective leg 30, 40 and diverging from the outer convex surface 36, 46in a direction toward the base 20 forming a continuously varyingthickness of respective leg 30, 40. Thus, each terminal end 34, 44 isallowed to flex to allow insertion and withdrawal of the elongated body2.

It is presently preferred to adapt the base 22 with a pair of outwardlyextending flanges 26 having bottom surfaces thereof disposed coplanarwith the exposed surface 24 of the base 22 so as to form a continuoussurface. In this embodiment, each outer convex surface 36, 46 is allowedto transition by one of a straight or concave portion 38, 48respectively with the respective flange 26 of the base 22. The device 10of FIG. 2 benefits from minimized amount and cost of the manufacturingmaterial as well as strengthening the base 20 sufficient to withstandthe rigors of mounting the device 10 to one of the surface 4 and theobject 6.

In the device 10 of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, the clip 20 may be formed integralwith the base 22 of the identical or different material.

The device 10 of FIGS. 1-2 further includes means for mounting the atleast one clip 20 to at least one of a surface 4 and an object 6. Now inreference to FIGS. 3 a-3 f, the present invention contemplates that theclip 20 can be mounted in a variety of different ways. The presentinvention may employ a mounting member disposed on and affixed to theexposed surface 24 of the base 22. By way of an example of FIG. 3 a suchmounting member may be a magnet 60 a for attachment to any surface 4 orobject 6 having magnetic material attracting characteristics. Steel maybe one type of such material. By way of another example of FIG. 3 b suchmounting member may be well known suction cup 60 b. By way of yetanother example of FIG. 3 c such mounting member may be a conventionalhook and loop fastener 60 c. By way of a further example of FIG. 3 dsuch mounting member 60 may be a clamp 60 d having a bias spring 61. Byway of another example of FIG. 3 e such mounting member 60 may be aconventional pin 60 e sized for insertion into a hole (not shown) or agap. Such pin 60 g may be employed, for exampled, for positioning thedevice 10 between the floor molding 6 a and a grout crevice of a brickfireplace (not shown).

By way of yet another example of FIG. 3 f, such mounting member may bean adhesive strip 60 f that may be further provided with a peelableliner 60 h. The adhesive strip 60 f may be either of a permanent,semi-permanent or removable type as it is well known in the art. It isnot required in the present invention that the various members 60 a-60 dand 60 f are sized exclusively substantially equal to the surface 24 ofthe base 22. The mounting members 60 a, 60 b, 60 c, and 60 f may beaffixed to the base 22 in any of the conventional methods, for examplesuch as an adhesive.

The device 10 may be also provided with a flange 60 h that may be thenused for attachment of the various members 60 a-60 f thereonto.

Now in reference to FIGS. 4-5, the mounting means may also include apair of apertures 62, each of the pair of apertures 62 formed throughthe respective flange 26 for applications requiring a more permanentattachment of the device 10.

Yet another example of the mounting means is illustrated in FIG. 1 byway of a slot 64 formed through the device 10 between the surface 24 ofthe base 22 and the elongated body receiving opening 50 in a directionsubstantially parallel to axis 51 thereof. Such slot 64 is advantageousfor use with a conventional cable tie 66. The cable tie 66 may be usedin two ways. In a first way, the cable tie 66 may secure the elongatedbody 2 disposed within the elongated body receiving opening 50. In asecond way, the cable tie 66 may secure the device 10 to an object 6,for example such as the round conduit or pipe. When the device 10 issecured to such object 6, the surface 22 may be adapted with a curve.

It is further within the scope of the present invention to integrate thecable tie into the device 10, as best shown in FIG. 8. Such integrationmay be simply achieved by securing a female portion 66 a of the cabletie 66 to one side of the clip 20 and secure the male portion 66 b to anopposed side of the clip 30.

FIG. 6 illustrates a device, generally designated as 11, for at leastone of supporting, anchoring holding or retaining elongated bodies thatis constructed in accordance with yet another embodiment of theinvention. In addition to having a clip 20, the device 11 also has asecond clip 21 which is disposed opposite to the clip 20 along thecommon central axis 23 and about the common base 25. The second clip 21may be constructed generally similar or substantially identical to theclip 20 depending on the specific application. An example of suchapplication may be an attachment of the device 11 to the object 6 beingof a round conduit or pipe, wherein the second clip 21 is sized tofrictionally receive such object 6 while the first clip 20 is sized forreceiving the elongated member 2 to be retained or supported. In thisexample, the elongated member 2 may be a telephone wire routed through abasement of the residential dwelling generally external to and alongrigid object 6 such as an electrical conduit or a water supply pipe.

FIG. 7 illustrates a front elevation view of a device, generallydesignated as 12, for at least one of supporting, anchoring holding orretaining elongated bodies that is constructed in accordance with afurther embodiment of the invention. The device 12 has at least a pairof clips 20 juxtaposed with each other relative to the base 22. Theclips 20 may be substantially identical or may be provided in differentsizes for use with elongated members 2 of varying sizes to meet specificapplications.

The present invention contemplates that the device 12 may be alsoprovided with mounting means as explained above in reference to FIGS.1-5. The present invention further contemplates that the device 12 maybe adapted with the clip 21 of FIG. 6 that extends from the surface 24in the direction opposite to the directions of clips 20.

FIG. 9 illustrates another environmental view of using the device 10 ofFIGS. 1-2 and device 12 of FIG. 7 attached to the surface 4 being a wallsurface and containing a phone jack 5.

Thus, the present invention has been described in such full, clear,concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art towhich it pertains to make and use the same. It will be understood thatvariations, modifications, equivalents and substitutions for componentsof the specifically described embodiments of the invention may be madeby those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

1. A device for at least one of supporting, anchoring holding orretaining elongated bodies, said device comprising: (a) at list one clipformed from a predetermined resilient material having memory, said atleast one clip including: (i) a base having a predetermined shape, (ii)a first leg extending from said base and having an inwardly facing firstconcave inner surface, (iii) a second leg extending from said basehaving an inwardly facing second concave inner surface, (iv) a generallyround elongated body receiving opening centrally formed by a combinationof said first and second concave inner surfaces, and (v) an access slotformed in substantial alignment with said elongated body receivingopening by a terminal end of said first leg being spaced a predetermineddistance from a terminal end of said second leg in a normal operatingposition, whereby each terminal end is adapted for outward movementduring insertion of such elongated bodies into said generally roundelongated body receiving opening and removal of such elongated bodiestherefrom, whereby size of said elongated body receiving opening isgreater than size of said access slot; and (b) means for mounting saidat least one clip to at least one of a surface and an object.
 2. Thedevice, according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second legsincludes an outwardly facing convex outer surface.
 3. The device,according to claim 2, wherein each inwardly facing concave inner surfaceconverges toward said outer convex surface at a terminal end of arespective leg and diverges from said outer convex surface in adirection toward said base.
 4. The device, according to claim 3, whereinsaid each of said first and second legs includes a continuously varyingthickness formed by respective inner concave and outer convex surfaces.5. The device, according to claim 1, wherein said base includes a pairof flanges, each of said pair of flanges extending outwardly therefromsubstantially planar with a surface thereof and wherein said mountingmeans includes a pair of apertures, each of said pair of aperturesformed through a respective flange.
 6. The device, according to claim 1,wherein said mounting means includes a slot formed through said devicebetween said base and said elongated body receiving opening in adirection substantially parallel to an axis thereof.
 7. The device,according to claim 1, wherein said mounting means includes a mountingmember disposed on an exposed surface of said base.
 8. The device,according to claim 1, wherein said mounting member is at least one ofadhesive strip, magnet, spring clamp, suction cup, clip, flange, pin andhook and loop fastener.
 9. The device, according to claim 1, whereinsaid mounting means includes a cable tie having a male portion thereofdisposed on and secured to an outer surface of one of said first andsecond legs and a female portion thereof disposed on and secured to anouter surface of an opposed one of said first and second legs.
 10. Adevice for at least one of supporting, anchoring holding or retainingelongated bodies, said device comprising: (a) an elongated base member;(b) at list one clip extending from said base member, said at list oneclip including: (i) a first leg having each of a first outwardly facingconvex outer surface, at least one of a tapered and concave transitionsurface between said first convex surface and said base member, aninwardly facing first concave arcuate inner surface converging towardsaid outer convex surface at a terminal end of said first leg anddiverging from said outer convex surface in a direction toward said basemember, and a continuously varying thickness formed by said first innerand outer surfaces, said first leg formed from a predetermined resilientmaterial having memory, (ii) a second leg having each of a secondoutwardly facing convex outer surface, at least one of a tapered andconcave transition surface between said second convex surface and saidbase member, a second inwardly facing concave arcuate inner surfaceconverging toward said outer convex surface at a terminal end of saidsecond leg and diverging from said outer convex surface in a directiontoward said base member, and a continuously varying thickness formed bysaid second inner and outer surfaces, said second leg formed from saidpredetermined resilient material having said memory, (iii) a generallyround elongated body receiving opening centrally formed by a combinationof said first and second concave arcuate inner surfaces, and (iv) anaccess slot centrally formed in substantial alignment with saidelongated body receiving opening by said terminal end of said first legbeing spaced a predetermined distance from said terminal end of saidsecond leg in a normal operating position, whereby each terminal end isadapted for outward movement during insertion of such elongated bodiesinto said generally round elongated body receiving opening and removalof such elongated bodies therefrom, whereby size of said elongated bodyreceiving opening is greater than size of said access slot; and (c)means for mounting said device to at least one of a surface and anobject, said means being at least one of pair of apertures formedthrough said base member, slot formed through said device and memberdisposed on an exposed surface of said base member.
 11. The device,according to claim 10, wherein each of said pair of apertures is formedthrough said base member in close proximity to and spaced from saidrespective edge thereof.
 12. The device, according to claim 10, whereinsaid slot is disposed between said exposed surface of said base memberand said elongated body receiving opening in a direction substantiallyparallel to an axis thereof.
 13. The device, according to claim 10,wherein said member is at least one of adhesive strip, magnet, springclamp, suction cup, pin, flange and hook and loop fastener.
 14. Thedevice, according to claim 10, wherein said predetermined material is atleast one of a rubber and a plastic.
 15. The device, according to claim10, wherein each of said first and second leg is formed integral withsaid base member.
 16. A device for at least one of supporting, anchoringholding or retaining elongated bodies, said device comprising: (a) abase; (b) a first clip extending from said base; (c) a second clipextending from said base along a common axis in a direction opposite toa direction of said first clip; and (d) each of said first and secondclip including: (i) a first leg having an inwardly facing first concaveinner surface, (ii) a second leg having an inwardly facing secondconcave inner surface, (iii) a generally round elongated body receivingopening centrally formed by a combination of said first and secondconcave inner surfaces, and (iv) an access slot formed in substantialalignment with said elongated body receiving opening by a terminal endof said first leg being spaced a predetermined distance from a terminalend of said second leg in a normal operating position, whereby eachterminal end is adapted for outward movement during insertion of suchelongated bodies into said generally round elongated body receivingopening and removal of such elongated bodies therefrom, whereby size ofsaid elongated body receiving opening is greater than size of saidaccess slot.
 17. The device, according to claim 16, wherein said deviceincludes means for mounting said device to at least one of a surface andan object.
 18. The device, according to claim 16, wherein said mountingmeans includes at least one of a slot formed through said base in adirection substantially perpendicular to said common axis and a pair ofapertures, each of said pair of apertures formed through said base inclose proximity to and spaced form a respective end thereof.